Driver of unfit taxi has licence revoked

A hackney carriage driver in the Vale of Glamorgan has had his Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Drivers licenses revoked.

During his appeal at Cardiff Magistrates Court, it was emphasised how driver John Lewis’s vehicle had a prolonged history of bald tyres.

Mr Lewis also accepted that he had told the Vale of Glamorgan Licensing Committee on 12 May that it did not matter that the tyres were under the legal limit as it “was only a hair’s breath.”

Mr Lewis had presented his private hire vehicle for testing at the Council depot with both front tyres so devoid of rubber the reinforcement ply was showing.

The magistrates, after looking at the vehicles records of maintenance over the past two years, decided on the balance of probabilities that Mr Lewis was not a fit and proper person to hold a vehicle licence.

Cllr Neil Moore, Leader of the Council, said: “We expect the highest standards both from our drivers and from their vehicles. Our officers continue to work proactively across the Vale to maintain these standards in order to keep the community safe. This is another fantastic example of our licensing officers doing their job and ensuring that all our citizens have safe and reliable taxis and Hackney carriages in which to travel.”